Why Do We Need Poison Ivy Treatment?

We need poison ivy treatment because of . . . poison ivy. Well, duh, as my kids would say. We need treatment because a poison ivy rash is a miserable, itchy experience. Well, yes. We need treatment because we’re allergic to poison ivy? Close, but still not the whole story.

We really need poison ivy treatment because of urushiol (pronounced oo-roo-she-ol). That’s what really causes the trouble. It’s found in every part of the plant -- leaves, stems, vines, and roots -- and it’s what we’re allergic to. Urushiol causes our allergic reaction.

Animals are so lucky. They aren’t allergic to urushiol. In fact, the birds that eat poison ivy berries scatter the seeds everywhere. That’s why I have new poison ivy plants in my yard each spring.

People are not so lucky. About half the population has an allergic reaction to urushiol the first time they come in contact with it. About 90 per cent develop an allergic reaction with repeated exposure.

Not everybody responds exactly the same way to urushiol. Some people have a mild reaction, while others are highly allergic. Most people will get a rash if they are exposed to as little as 50 micrograms of purified urushiol. That’s really a tiny amount. A single grain of salt only weighs about 60 micrograms. About 20% of the population is highly sensitive. These unfortunate folks get a rash if they’re exposed to as little 2 micrograms of urushiol.

Urushiol is nasty stuff! No wonder we need poison ivy treatment!

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